[Ecclesiastical Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry Charles] / Bell, George Kennedy Allen (Bishop of Chichester, later Dean of Canterbury) / Mar Ignatius Elias III (Patriarch of Antioch and Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church) / Davidson, Randall T. (Archbishop of Canterbury / Douglas, John Albert (Dean of St.Luke’s) / R.F.Borough (Chaplain in Constantinople).

Collection of significant Documents and exchange of letters regarding “Intercommunion between the Anglican Church and Orthodox Syrian Church”. The documents and letters show a string of stunning developments during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, between Mar Ignatius and the Archbishop of Canterbury in which the tensions between Churches, the charged atmosphere of the outgoing Ottoman Empire and fragility of the Patriarchate in Jerusalem are manifested in these communications. Striking also the clarity with which is determined that all parties have to avoid to anger the Turks and avoid having the Turks think that Mar Ignatius “is trying to form some political alliance with the British”. See all documents listed below and some highlights mentioned here: Typed Letter Signed (TLS) with manuscript annotations by the later Dean of Canterbury, George Bell, sent to Commander H[arry] Luke while Luke was in Venice during October 2022. The letter is accompanied by two Typescripts of letters between the Archbishop of Canterbury (then Randall Davidson) and Mar Ignatius as well as a highly confidential Memorandum which outlines the very delicate topic of Mar Ignatius asking the Archbishop if he would be “prepared to authorise and arrange that the Syrian Orthodox (Jacobites) in America and elsewhere who were outside the ministrations of their own clergy should be [could be] mininistered to by Anglican Priests”. According to the Memorandum, compiled and sent by Rev. John Albert Douglas, Vicar of S. Luke’s, to “Commander Luke” in October 1922, the highly conflicting topic of “Intercommunion between the Anglican Church and Orthodox Syrian Church”, started “in the autumn of 1920” and the correspondence before us presents the culmination of a two year long, significant correspondence between Lambeth Palace (Archbishop of Canterbury) and the Syrian Patriarchat in Antioch (Mar Ignatios – Elias III). Harry Luke was sought out as intermediate after it became clear that Mar Ignatius had either misunderstood items in the communication or was stalling and the Memorandum suggests that Luke, “possibly with Archdeacon Waddy” should call to Mar Ignatios and “remind him what it was and why it was that the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote to him”. The mediation, hoped for from Luke, was at time clearly based on Luke’s experience in the region and the letter from George Bell suggests he is hought to be the solution to this delicate matter. The Typescript of the Letter from Randall Davidson to Mar Ignatius is of great importance due to the Archbishop and Mar Ignatius firstly establish in no uncertain terms the righteousness of either faith. Randall Davidson, satisfied by this, agrees that “It is now my privilege in consequence of these communications to authorise these recognised members of the Orthodox Syrian Church who, being prevented from access to their own clergy, desire to receive the Holy Communion, or to have their children being baptised, or their marriage solemnized, to avail themselves of the ministration of our clergy”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Canterbury / Jerusalem / Camberwell [South London], June – November, 1922. Octavo / Quarto. Eight Documents [Letters and Typescripts]. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

The eight documents are:

1. 21st June, 1922:

Typescript of Five-page-Letter from Archbishop of Canterbury, Randall Davidson, to “His Holiness Mar-Ignatius Elias″

2. 17th August, 1922:

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) from George Bell to “H.C.Luke, The Governorate, Jerusalem”:

″Dear Mr.Luke, Mr.Douglas tells me today that he has heard from you and that you tell him that Mar Ignatius is (or only was ?) in Jerusalem. I write, at his suggestion, at once to say that the Archbishop of Canterbury has sent a formal communication to Mar Ignatius offering him ‘occasional intercommunion’ on terms agreed by the recent Lambeth Conference [1920] – he having given evidence with regard to the Christological quoting satisfaction to Anglican theologians. It is his Grace’s hope that the offer may be formally accepted before Mar Ignatius actually leaves Jerusalem – the preliminary negotiations seem to show that there ought to be no difficulty. His Grace signed the documents for Mar Ignatius (after missing him at Constantinople) to Archdeacon Waddy [Archdeacon Percival Stacy Waddy] at Jerusalem asking for the cooperation of the Archdeacon and Canon Danby [Herbert Danby] in the matter. If Mar Ignatius is still in Jerusalem and you had an opportunity of cooperating with Archbishop Waddy in any way which seems appropriate. I have no doubt that such help would be of real value. With kind regards Yours sincerely G.K.A.Bell’


3. 27th September, 1922:

Typescript – Copy of Two-Page-Letter (Answer) from Mar Ignatius to “His Eminence The Archbishop of Canterbury″

4. 4th of October, 1922:

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) from George Bell to “H.C.Luke, 154 Ashby Gardens, [London] S.W.1″

″Dear Mr.Luke – Many thanks for your note – The Archbishop only returned to Lambeth yesterday afternoon and goes to Canterbury on Saturday. He would very much like to see you and wonders whether you could come here to breakfast on Saturday morning (Oct. 7) ? We have a busy service in the chapel at 8:30 and breakfast afterwards just before 9 o’clock. Could you send me a line as to whether this is convenient ? Yours sincerely G.K.A. Bell’


5. 19th of October, 1922:

″Confidential” Memorandum (summarizing the events) sent to Commander Luke by Rev. J.A.Douglas (copy to George Bell)

6. 27th of October, 1922:

Typed Letter Signed (TLS) from George Bell to H.C.Luke.

7. 2nd of November , 1922:

Typescript of letter from R.F.Borough (Crimean Memorial Church in Constantinople) to George Bell:

″Dear Mr. Bell – I have been studying Mar Ignatius’ letter very carefully and thinking about it, amd I don’t see any reason for the disappointment Douglas feels [John Albert Douglas (1868 – 1956) founder of the journal ‘The Christian East’]. From the very first the Patriarch told me he could not take any formal and final step without a Council of his Bishops, and it is perfectly true that such a council cannot meet under present conditions – he also has to walk very warily lest the Turks should think he is trying to form some political alliance with the British. So I should recommend a short friendly answer, asking his Holiness to lose no time in summoning a Council as soon as it becomes practicable. I think the confession of sins insisted upon is a rather formal affair. P.S. – I have just heard from Douglas that you have already taken unofficial action to stir up Mar Ignatius to a more definite attitude. No doubt that is wise, but I still feel sure that he can’t summon a Council and believe he is honest, but very much afraid of the Turks. Yours very sincerely, (Sgd) R.F.Borough). Crimean Memorial Church – rue Yazidij, Constantinople, 2nd November, 1922”. /


8. 11th of November, 1922:

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) from George Bell to “Commander H.C.Luke, Assistant Governor, Jerusalem″

″My dear Luke – Many thanks for your letter of Nov. 1st written from Venice and for your care in the matter of Mar Ignatius [Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum (1887 – 1957)]. I think you ought to know that the Rev. R.F.Borough (Chaplain in Constantinople), the actual negotiator, in the informal stages between the Eastern Churches [?] and Mar Ignatius, thinks more favourably of [?] than we thought. I appear a copy of his statement [a copy of a letter of R.F.Borough to Bishop Bell is included in the envelope – (see here under No.7)]…….[?] (Bell continues to elaborate on letters and the Patriarch) ….Yours very truly G.K.A Bell”.

• Keywords: Archbishop of Canterbury · Archbishop Randall Davidson · Autograph · Autograph – British History · Autograph – History Rare · Autograph – Rare · Autographed Letter – signed · British Colonial Administration · British Colonial History · British Foreign Office · British Foreign Policy · Colonial History · Colonial History – Rare · Ecclesiastical Content / Sir Harry Luke · Harry Luke – Ecclesiastical · Luke, Sir Harry · Mar Ignatius · Randall Thomas Davidson, 1st Baron Davidson of Lambeth · Sir Harry Luke · Sir Harry Luke – Personal Archive of Books and Correspondence · Sir Harry Luke Collection · TLS · Typed Letter signed
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 31774AB

EUR 275.000,--